TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of a Virtual Introduction to Radiation Oncology Presentation on Stimulating Interest in the Specialty Among Diverse Medical Students at Multiple Institutions
AU - Mattes, Malcolm D.
AU - Gayed, George
AU - Thomas, Charles R.
AU - Deville, Curtiland
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American College of Radiology
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Purpose: Many US medical students lack access to radiation oncology (RO). The authors’ hypothesis was that a virtual, cross-institutional presentation introducing students to a career in RO would be valuable in exposing students to RO who are less likely to access it otherwise and would increase students’ interest in a career in RO regardless of their gender, race, or ethnicity. Methods: A 1-hour, live, virtual, extracurricular presentation was offered to deans of US medical schools lacking affiliated RO departments and/or having high enrollments of students underrepresented in medicine (UIM) and also student groups composed primarily of UIM students. Presentations were given individually to each school by a single radiation oncologist. An electronic survey captured data from participating students. Results: One hundred ninety-seven students from 13 institutions attended presentations; 114 students responded to the survey (response rate, 58%). Ninety-two students (81%) were aware of the specialty of RO before the presentation; however, UIM students were significantly less likely to be aware of RO than all others (69% versus 87%, P = .05). Only 19 students (17%) reported previously hearing presentations from radiation oncologist (29% among second- to fourth-year students versus 9% among first-year students, P = .01). Ninety-eight students (86%) expressed more interest in pursuing a career in RO after the presentation. There was no significant difference in interest in RO for any demographic subgroups. Conclusions: Virtual RO exposure was feasible to deliver to students less likely to be exposed otherwise and successfully stimulated interest in the specialty regardless of students’ gender, race, or ethnicity.
AB - Purpose: Many US medical students lack access to radiation oncology (RO). The authors’ hypothesis was that a virtual, cross-institutional presentation introducing students to a career in RO would be valuable in exposing students to RO who are less likely to access it otherwise and would increase students’ interest in a career in RO regardless of their gender, race, or ethnicity. Methods: A 1-hour, live, virtual, extracurricular presentation was offered to deans of US medical schools lacking affiliated RO departments and/or having high enrollments of students underrepresented in medicine (UIM) and also student groups composed primarily of UIM students. Presentations were given individually to each school by a single radiation oncologist. An electronic survey captured data from participating students. Results: One hundred ninety-seven students from 13 institutions attended presentations; 114 students responded to the survey (response rate, 58%). Ninety-two students (81%) were aware of the specialty of RO before the presentation; however, UIM students were significantly less likely to be aware of RO than all others (69% versus 87%, P = .05). Only 19 students (17%) reported previously hearing presentations from radiation oncologist (29% among second- to fourth-year students versus 9% among first-year students, P = .01). Ninety-eight students (86%) expressed more interest in pursuing a career in RO after the presentation. There was no significant difference in interest in RO for any demographic subgroups. Conclusions: Virtual RO exposure was feasible to deliver to students less likely to be exposed otherwise and successfully stimulated interest in the specialty regardless of students’ gender, race, or ethnicity.
KW - Radiation oncology
KW - undergraduate medical education
KW - workforce
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.10.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.10.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 36513260
AN - SCOPUS:85146131092
SN - 1546-1440
VL - 20
SP - 243
EP - 250
JO - Journal of the American College of Radiology
JF - Journal of the American College of Radiology
IS - 2
ER -